ninny

noun

nin·​ny ˈni-nē How to pronounce ninny (audio)
plural ninnies

Examples of ninny in a Sentence

only a ninny would try to cross a swollen, raging river was such a ninny that he kept forgetting my name, even though I was wearing a name tag
Recent Examples on the Web Jane Austen wrote takedowns of this kind of ninny two centuries ago — how fun to see Pike update her twit to the post-Y2K era. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Kopas, who wisely eschews hamming, makes Frank a spry, eloquent presence, although more dourness in the play’s initial scenes might help his character stand out from the salon’s cheerful ninnies. Celia Wren, Washington Post, 4 May 2023 Because some ninny has not read the user manual. Sarah Barker, Outside Online, 19 Mar. 2021 Sure enough, the team at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, an organization that provides food to more than 700 pantries throughout the Chicago area, contacted me and said a conservative donor who thinks me quite the ninny had donated $10,000. Rex Huppke, chicagotribune.com, 16 Dec. 2021 This Macbeth is something of a ninny, a lightweight who lounges on a throne that seems far too big for him. Kyle Smith, National Review, 2 Nov. 2019 When this became public knowledge, Stephen Spender, Lasky’s deputy and more a ninny than a poet, resigned. David Pryce-Jones, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019 But the story goes that mall proponents had to overcome three tremendous obstacles: the Great Depression, World War II, and the city’s anti-growth ninnies. oregonlive.com, 1 Aug. 2019 There are plenty of things that people want to do at theme parks and water parks, including scream like ninnies on thrill rides, be transported to fantastic realms on sophisticated attractions, and cool down on exhilarating water slides. Arthur Levine, USA TODAY, 13 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ninny.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

perhaps by shortening & alteration from an innocent

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ninny was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near ninny

Cite this Entry

“Ninny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ninny. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ninny

noun
nin·​ny ˈnin-ē How to pronounce ninny (audio)
plural ninnies
: a foolish or stupid person

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